Skip links

OCTOBER 2019 NOMINEES

Animation Short – Official Selection – October 2019

Featherweight | United Kingdom | 2019 | 09’
Director: Kayleigh Gibbons
Writer: Kayleigh Gibbons
Producer: Richard Gordon
Synopsis: A dark humoured and expressive character animation about a Father and Daughter coping with the loss of a central family member. Whilst grieving in a graveyard, the Daughter is disrupted by a blackbird defecating onto her Mother’s grave. A fire of rage lights up inside of her and she sets out to direct it in various violent ways, whilst the Father chooses to shut himself up in an agoraphobic state and ignore everything. Can they proceed as a new family, smaller yet stronger? Made by Jam Media, with the support of Northern Ireland Screen and the BFI.

At First Sight | Netherlands | 2018 | 17’
Director: Sjaak Rood
Writer: Sjaak Rood
Producer: Paul de Heer
Synopsis: A man and a woman drive straight towards one another. They hit the breaks just in time and come to a standstill, facing each other. They’re both too stubborn to give way to the other. A life story begins.

Filla’ Void | United States | 2019 | 05’
Director: Xinhui Ma
Writer: Xinhui Ma
Synopsis: In a world where everybody has a hole to fill, Victor and NotKaren wait in line for the only vending machine that sells “Filler.” What happens when someone unplugs the machine and NotKaren falls into the hole on another man’s back?

Subconscious Voyage | Ireland | 2019 | 07’
Director: Dylan Dreher
Writer: Daniel Batchelor
Synopsis: The surreal story of a young boy named ‘Brian’ who tries to escape away from his home and argumentative parents, into a fantasy dreamscape called ‘The Land of The Walrus’.

Ovarian Cyst! | United States | 02’
Director: Aron Fromm
Writer: Aron Fromm
Producer: Aron Fromm
Cast: Noah Geldberg
Synopsis: An anthropomorphic Ovarian Cyst fights crime in New York City with his terminally ill nine-year-old sidekick Lymphoma Lad.

Children Short – Official Selection – October 2019

The Fisherman’s Song | Spain | 03’
Director: Sandra M Dustet
Producer: Petits Habitants Factory
Synopsis: Through rhyming verses in a playful way, two children recreate their evening bath.

Animobiles | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | 2017 | 07’
Director: Alberto Chumaceiro, Mauricio Rodriguez Pons
Wrtiter: Alberto Chumaceiro, Mauricio Rodriguez Pons
Producer: Isaac Bencid
Cast: Daniela Wertheim
Synopsis: The series follows the adventures of 4 characters: Nana, Guau, Ali and Mou; all are part of a cradle mobile and come alive every night, while the baby sleeps. These characters search for special items in the house to make a story that help the baby learn about different things important for his development.

Documentary Short – Official Selection – October 2019

Viva Presidio! | Italy | 2019 | 14’
Director: Andrea Lazzari
Writer: Andrea Lazzari
Producer: Waamoz
Cast: John Ferguson
Synopsis: An American. A family man. A mayor. A school principal. Amariachi. John Ferguson governs the city of Presidio in Texas, educates as a principal the high school citizen boys and he’s the fatherin-law of a good mexican boy, Miguel, her daughter’s husband. But he’s also a mariachi who along with his band, the Mariachi Santa Cruz, composed of his entire family, plays in the clubs and events of neighboring Mexico. In one of the many border towns on the Rio Bravo, between customs and walls, ¡Viva Presidio! tells the story of a man whose ethnicity represents only 2% of the population that voted for it, of his love for the place he came from and for the Norteño music.

Chaim Grosbein | Israel | 2019 | 12’
Director: Philippe Bensadon
Writer: Mimi Hasson
Producers: Mimi Hasson , Philippe Bensadon
Synopsis: The incredible story of a World War Two survivor named Chaim Grosbein. A five-year-old boy who runs for his life. The story takes place in Belarus in 1942 when a group of Jews miraculously escape a round-up and run into the deep forest. During an ambush by German soldiers, little Chaim is shot in the foot. Having to face a painfully difficult decision, his closest surviving relative leaves him behind. A wounded and petrified Chaim is left to fend for himself in the wilderness. And it is there that Chaim remains… and survives… for two years.

Cyclist | Turkey | 2019 | 22’
Director: Melih Aslan
Synopsis: A young black cyclist enters his first marathon race, and learns to dream of a life beyond a South African township.

A day in Sengulam | France | 2019 | 18’
Director: Matthieu MAUNIER-ROSSI
Writer: Denis CAMELIN, Matthieu MAUNIER-ROSSI
Producer: Isabel SEGOVIA
Synopsis: In 1988, on their return from Calcutta, two of Mother Teresa’s disciples founded a « Mercy Home » in Sengulam, India. Today, this hamlet still shelters many rejected people from the area : orphans, repudiated wives, beggars, disabled and poor people of all origins… In the heart of this community, they all hope for a more peaceful life. One day at a time. (A french version of the film is also available.)

THE SONGS of LOVE | Ukraine | 2019 | 06’
Director: Andrii Andreiev
Producer: Andrii Andreiev
Synopsis: ‘The more poetry, the closer to the reality’ said Friedrich Schelling. When admiring beauty interweaves with your worldview, life becomes full of meaning, every moment brings satisfaction. The more one develops delicate sensitivity to the grace, the more love opens in his heart, the more happiness he has to share with the others. Understanding and ability to enjoy the beauty – these are the things that can save the Planet. Admiration and enjoyment of the nature are the starting point on the way to preserve it, and if one has possibilities and to act too. ‘Songs of Love’ is a short film – contemplation of the gracefulness, freedom, tenderness, dance, peace of the biggest animals – the whales, the cosmic act of life, perfection of every moment. This is an underwater ‘flight – levitation’, this is a live music of the Universe that permeates the oceans with the vibrations dozens kilometers around, this is love… When we see these creatures, their greatness moves us to tears and we want them and all other nature to keep existing…

The Bee Rescuer | India | 2019 | 07’
Director: Bidit Roy
Producer: Bidit Roy
Cast: Amit Godse
Synopsis: Bees are some of the hardest working creatures on the planet, and because of their laborious work ethic, we owe many thanks to this amazing yet often underappreciated insect. Amit Godse, popularly known as Bee Man has been relentlessly saving honey bees in urban India since 2013. He is the founder of a social enterprise ‘Bee Basket’ which works towards conserving bees, training people in beekeeping and raw honey distribution.

Cincuenta (Fifty) | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | 2017 | 05’
Director: Alberto Chumaceiro
Writer: Alberto Chumaceiro
Producers: Alberto Chumaceiro, Isaac Bencid, Mauricio Rodriguez, Roberto Patiño
Synopsis: Caracas, one of the most dangerous cities in the world, if not the most. Violence is seriously hindering all aspects of daily life. This problem increased even more during the 2017 anti-government protests, which left more than 120 people dead, the vast majority of them victims of the same security forces sworn to protect them. This is the story of Miguel Castillo Bracho, the 50th victim of the repression, who fell on May 10, 2017, during a protest in the area of Las Mercedes, in Caracas. He was killed by a military officer, who as of yet has not been identified or prosecuted Winner of a 2018 Reed Award for Best Web Video – Public affairs (overall).

Experimental Short – Official Selection – October 2019

A Folk Tale | United Kingdom | 2019 | 12’
Director: Matt Robinson
Cast: Phil Snowden, Georgie Matthews, Carey Thring
Synopsis: A deconstructed fairy tale in the spirit of Russian Formalist Vladimir Propp

Superficie Tessuto Corpo | Italy | 2019 | 12’
Director: Daniela De Francesco
Cast: Giovanni Vaccarini
Synopsis: An architecture and experimental short-film focusing on the Giovanni Vaccarini’s design research by referencing some of his previous built projects, introduces the theme of the surface which, in his work, almost turns into a fabric and hence into a body.

The Sounds Beyond Silence | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2017 | 09’
Director: Azar Tajalli
Writer: Sharafnesa Niroomand
Producers: Fatemeh Abolghasemi, Mahtab Keramati
Cast: Mahtab Keramati
Synopsis: An insomniac lady tries to sleep, but environmental sounds don’t let her. She cuts them all but one!

Mirage of the North | Denmark | 2019 | 04’
Directors: David Jervidal, Tommy Jervidal
Writers: David Jervidal, Tommy Jervidal
Producers: David Jervidal, Tommy Jervidal
Cast: David Jervidal, Tommy Jervidal
Synopsis: Mirage of the North was filmed over 10 days on the Faroe Islands by a father and son on a journey – into the patterns of raw nature

Fashion Short– Official Selection – September 2019

Intruder | United States | 2019 | 02’
Director: Dylan Perlot
Writer: Dylan Perlot
Producers: Stacie Yue, Christian Jacobson
Cast: Aurea @Cover Paris Models
Synopsis: Lost in the woods, she will find her way to your house. What happens when you’re gone?

A woman | 2019 | 04’
Director: Anastasia Raykova
Producers: Anastasia Raykova, Anastasia Everall
Cast: Daisy Darvill, Alena Izunova, Natalia Moskaleva, Linda Telek
Synopsis: Film “A Woman” tells a lot about love, empowerment and beauty in female life through dance and senses.

Models of Thought | Australia | 2018 | 03’
Director: VERSUS
Writer: Jason Sukadana
Producer: Tanya Babic
Cast: Lola Van Vorst
Synopsis: When Lola Van Vorst starts to experience universal doubt, she embarks on a journey to explain René Descartes’ famed philosophical proposition “I think, therefore I am”. Models Of Thought is a series of fashion shorts in which models attempt to explain essential philosophical theories.

Mini Video Short– Official Selection – October 2019

LOST IN OBLIVION | United Kingdom | 2019 | 03’
Director: Nejc Miljak
Writer: Jaida Saint Gomes
Producer: Moses Gomes Santos
Cast: Moses Gomes Santos
Synopsis: Lost in oblivion is an extraordinary story about a man who was once told he had nothing to live for. Now an accidental addict, he fights a not so sober fight for his life and sanity.

Disenthralled | United States | 2019 | 03’
Director: Zahra Shahhatami
Writer: Zahra Shahhatami
Producers: Zahra Shahhatami, Arthur Hubert
Cast: Flavia Polles
Synopsis: The women who have lost their liberty between their strands of hair and will be free from slavery when their false freedom dances on the wind.

Umbra | United States | 2019 | 03’
Director: Zahra Shahhatami
Writer: Zahra Shahhatami
Producers: Zahra Shahhatami, Arthur Hubert
Cast: Sarah Little, Jessus Zambrano
Synopsis: Two women who lost their inner brightness and dreams in the darkest part of a sunspot. Who suffer from pain, violence and abuse, which they hide in themselves and that stops them from shining.

Lotus, Clam, Antlion | Japan | 2019 | 01’
Director: Sanae Hayashi
Writer: Sanae Hayashi
Producer: Sanae Hayashi
Synopsis: My sexuality with symbols

The Christmas Sneeze | United States | 2019 | 01’
Director: Kintan Chauhan
Writer: Kintan Chauhan
Producer: Kintan Chauhan
Cast: Sofia Grace Clifton
Synopsis: Love Yourself too!

Mobile Short Video – Official Selection – October 2019

Hi, How are you? | Republic of Korea | 2019 | 10’
Director: Howon Kim
Writers: Howon Kim, Minyoung Kim
Producers: Howon Kim, Minyoung Kim
Cast: Howon Kim
Synopsis: In the middle of desert with intense sun A man is down. When He opens his eyes He realized he is alone with tied. He is trying to get away, but It’s not enough. The only thing with this guy is the lots of thorny cactus Who tied up this man? And what do they want? What should this man do? How does he doing survive from this hardships? It’s the story of human beings.

English Made Simple | South Africa | 2019 | 05’
Director: Cara Rust
Writer: David Ives adapted by Cara Rust
Cast: Milan Struwig, Natasha Govender, Jaco van Niekerk, Willem van Wyk
Synopsis: In this absurd comedy, misfits Jake and James, entertain themselves at a pretentious party. ‘English Made Simple’ explores the complexities of defining yourself as an outcast.

Dark Passage | United States | 2019 | 01’
Director: Roshni “Rush” Bhatia
Writer: Roshni Bhatia
Producers: Andrew Mayne, Virginia Blatter
Cast: Anastasiia Polishchuk, Marcus Eddie, Jonathan Madajian
Synopsis: A part time drivers last ride of the night maybe the last ride of his life.

The New Forbidden City | China | 04’
Director: Viv Li
Synopsis: Beijing, the center of one of the most powerful countries at our time, has forbidden many to stay in its town. Is it political? Is it environmental? or is it simply racial? I spent two months investing into the strict regulations of Beijing’s forbidden rules, only to discover a beginning of a start.

Music Video – Official Selection – October 2019

True Love | Tonic Clonic | Israel | 2018 | 04’
Director: Ophir Benshimon
Writer: Ophir Benshimon
Producer: Ophir Benshimon
Cast: Ofir Daniel
Synopsis: A teenage girl is looking for true love. Will she succeed?

Bully | India | 2018 | 12’
Director: Aroop Dwivedi
Writer: Aroop Dwivedi
Producer: Minakshi Vinay Rai, Film Division of India
Synopsis: Dhonsiya The word Dhonsiya means Bully in Hindi (a language used in the northern part of India) The film narrates a tale of a hapless 8-year-old called Gulshan, who is going through one of the worst phase of his life, but by the time the story ends, things starts to change for him in a way that they will have very far reaching consequences.

Narrative Short – Official Selection – October 2019

Carry My Heart to the Yellow River | China | 2019 | 22’
Director: Alexis Van Hurkman
Writer: Kenjing Xiong, Alexis Van Hurkman
Producer: Wang Zunzheng
Cast: Box He, Wang Linaixuan, Wang Meiquian
Synopsis: Taking her hospitalized friend’s place on a bike tour to the Yellow River, a high school graduate travels to faraway Gannan and races the clock to share pictures of the journey.

iCANDY | United States | 2019 | 04’
Director: Gavin Jennings Harwell
Writer: Gavin Jennings Harwell
Producer: Trey Riley
Cast: Sloan Stewart, Devon Ovall
Synopsis: A young boy watches a cam-girl live-stream while his family waits for dinner.

Boredom | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | 2018 | 12’
Director: Sergio Pellín
Writer: Sergio Pellín
Producer: Freddytza González
Cast: Oriana Martins
Synopsis: Worn out by routine and drought, a woman tries to run away from loneliness and heartbreak.

Thirst | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | 2018 | 11’
Director: Dester Linares
Writers: Dester Linares , Marcel Rasquin, Alí Rondón
Producers: Joe Torres, Juan Antonio Díaz , Marcel Rasquin
Cast: Tatiana Mabo, Alí Rondón, Ricardo Lira
Synopsis: A near future. A world with no water. A couple of survivors. A constant wait for death. An unexpected visit. An impossible negotiation.

With these Fists | United States | 2019 | 20’
Director: Dan Jaure Rosenbaum
Writer: Ismail Yildiran
Producers: David Jaure Rosenbaum, Carlos A. Castillo, Omar Santana
Cast: Fernando Pacanin, Ned Cray, Paul Alexandro, Maria F. Blanco, Mark Kroczynski
Synopsis: Following a devastating loss, a once great boxer hangs up his gloves. But it’s not long before the lure of one more fight tempts him back with the hope of reviving his career and of redemption.

Dragon Song | United States | 2019 |19’
Director: David McClister
Writer: John Carter Cash
Producers: John Carter Cash, April Kimbrell
Cast: John Carter Cash, Ana Cristina Cash, Eric Hamilton, Joseph Cash, Jamey Johnson
Synopsis: In the wilderness of Oregon territory in 1875, Sherriff Lamberic White is drunkenly beating his one-time friend Spiney Shamblins to death. Young and idealistic Deputy Abel Cross is aghast and fearful, knowing the Sherriff’s drunken rage may lead to death. The Wood brothers, Deputies Dicky Joe and Earnest, sit in the rocks behind watching the mortal battle, passing around a bottle of whiskey. The Sherriff takes the bottle, turns it up and drinks deeply. He smashes it on a rock, then stumbles in for the kill. Deputy Cross pulls his gun and aims it at his superior, demanding the Sherriff put the bottle down. The other two deputies rise and put their hands on their pistol stocks, reading themselves with nervous appraisal. Lamberic, once a Colonel in the Civil War, is now an old and hardened lawman. He is far too familiar with facing guns. Showing no fear of his young deputy, he speaks softly and walks directly towards the barrel of the shaking gun. He takes the pistol and tosses it to the fast-handed Dicky Joe Wood. Spiney, bloody and bruised, laughs in delirium. His consciousness fades… The sign outside the Church reads “The Congregation of the Holy Bones, The Reverend Bill Miller residing”. Inside, the attending rise, joining in a chorus of “Bringing in the Sheaves”. One man, Spiney Shamblins, does not rise. It is clear he is drunk in Church, nearly falling from his pew. His wife watches in disgust. She is overly pregnant, yet bruised from her husband’s abusive hand. As the song finishes, the drunken man stands, berating and accusing the congregation. Lamberic White sits close by, Deputy Dicky Joe Wood beside him. Spiney is forced into his chair by the strong hands of a wizened old farmer and finds himself face-to-face with the Reverend Bill Miller. With commanding voice and wise eye, the pastor reads a scripture from the book of Ezekiel to Spiney. “…and the bones came together, bone to bone!”, recites the reverend. “You don’t have a chance in hell, boy,” he says. “In fact, you’re already there…” Spiney stands, stumbles, then falls. Four farmers rise immediately. “I’ve got this one Sherriff,” says the same farmer who forced Spiney into his seat. Hoisting the body, the able-bodied men carry the limp form out the door. The Reverend attends to the somewhat shocked congregation as they exit the church, Veronica Shamblins holding her stomach in evident pain. The last to leave is Sherriff Lamberic White. “I’m sorry about my friend, he’s been through a lot,” apologizes Lamberic to Reverend Miller before quickly hurrying off. Veronica sits uncomfortably in a quiet room, a friend tending to her. Sherriff White enters the room and cautiously removes his hat. The attending friend leaves and White kneels beside Veronica. He has a great concern and care in his eyes. There is something between them long hidden, and Lamberic leans closer, Veronica’s eyes filling with tears. White promises he will take care of her. “… and I will take care of him,” he promises. Spiney Shamblins awakes in an empty place, the burned out forest around him empty of life and inhospitable. Voices and conversations from his past go through his clouded mind, Veronica and Lamberic’s voices speak from his past, taunting him. He wanders on, and eventually comes to a barn, pushing his way through the door and into the darkness. Within is a strange light, and music being played. This is no place or time he has ever seen, and he finds himself stumbling through a barroom, the patrons eyeing him suspiciously, his dress as strange to them as theirs to his. In shock, Spiney moves through the room. He sees her. It’s Veronica, sitting at the bar, her hair perfect, a contented smile on her face. He begins to go to her, to reach for her, but suddenly he is stopped by a man he knows all too well. It is Lamberic White, yet now the Sherriff is different, his dress is from an age Spiney does not know. The same two deputies who were not long before drinking whiskey in a stony quarry, watching as Spiney was beaten to death, are there also. Spiney, in fearful confusion, runs. The Sherriff and his deputies pursue him up the back stairs of the bar and outside. Spiney moves fast ahead of the Sherriff, He moves fast into the dusty road just as a large metal vehicle, its source of power unknown to Spiney slams into him, knocking him hard to the ground. Spiney fades, fades, fades… The hood is pulled from Spiney’s head and he is now on the back of a horse. A noose is pushed down hard around his neck. Lamberic and the deputies are there, and once again Spiney is back in the wilds of Oregon. Spiney is resolved to his fate. He looks to his one-time commander. “…there’s a fear and a horrible passion,” he says. Standing a few paces away, Deputy Cross watches on. “This is the way,” he says, directly to Sherriff White. Lamberic slaps the horse’s ass, causing the animal to run… the rope falls from the tree and Spiney falls to the ground. It is clear the men had decided it best to teach him a lesson, and also that there must now be a great change in authority, and an end to many things for Lamberic. “Go home, Spiney,” says White. “You’ve found your way, maybe I’ll find it. Go home, Spiney.” He walks away, tossing his badge towards Deputy Cross, telling him to remove his tin badge and to wear the brass badge of a Sherriff. The Deputy picks up the badge and calls to the other Deputies, who ride away. Now, Spiney is alone. He reaches into the pocket of his shirt, finding a sheet of paper there. It is a page from the Bible, the same scripture the Reverend Bill Miller had read to him. “… and the bones came together, bone to bone…” There is hope in the scripture, and the promise of new life coming from what had seemed long dead. Yet as the day ends, memories of conversations from Spiney’s past still whisper to him… “There’s a rumbiling in my belly,” whispers Spiney. “That’s that dragon again,” responds Lamberic’s voice across the years, across the mountains, across time. “You have a dragon in you…” the two men whisper to one another…

Three blades | France | 2019 | 30’
Director: Matthieu MAUNIER-ROSSI
Writer: Matthieu MAUNIER-ROSSI
Producers: Isabel SEGOVIA, Stéphanie DRONNE
Cast: Davidson DUPUY, Jordany COTHIAS, Norbert ALIX
Synopsis: Haiti, nowadays. One day in the life of a family of three : three men, alone with their dreams and frustrations. Three generations under the burning sun. A day like every other day… And between them, everywhere, in every hand, there are blades : machetes. So when the night eventually comes…

Flickering Souls Set Alight | Greece | 2019 | 30’
Director: Iakovos Panagopoulos
Writer: Iakovos Panagopoulos
Producers: Iakovos Panagopoulos, Petros Antoniadis
Cast: Ioanna Tsirigkouli, Yannis Kokiasmenos, Errikos Litsis, Eliza Skolidi
Synopsis: Greece, 2017. The lack of financial support of Aris (who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / ALS) urges his wife Persephone to get confronted with human existential limits. “How many years does it really take to finally reach «home»?”

Little baby | Italy | 2019 | 14’
Director: Roberto Costantini
Writer: Roberto Costantini
Producers: Roberto Costantini, Giacobbe Gamberini
Cast: Ginevra Rondoni, Mauro Fiorucci Cardinali, Eleonora Cecconi
Synopsis: The young Samantha is targeted by Ivan and Kate to get to her father’s safe.

Tainted | United Kingdom | 2019 | 13’
Director: Rikki Beadle-Blair
Writer: Katherine Thomas
Producers: Alex Chang, Gianbruno Spena
Cast: Julianna Kurokawa, Jules Chan, Max Percy, Daniel York Loh, Meg Kubota, Vincent Jerome
Synopsis: An intense young woman stalks a young gay couple in a seaside town. What is the root of her seemingly unhealthy obsession?

Theory | United Kingdom | 2019 | 11’
Directors: Helene Schweitzer, Charles Meunier
Writer: Helene Schweitzer
Producer: Charles Meunier

Ironrite | United States | 2019 | 09’
Director: Clayton Combe
Writer: Clayton Combe
Producers: Clayton Combe, Kelsey Combe
Cast: Samantha Scaffidi, Suly Sky Vining
Synopsis: A 1950s housewife struggles to accept her place in the world, while hiding herself and her young son from an aggressive door-to-door salesman.

THE SACRIFICE | Greece | 2019 | 29’
Director: MANOS IOANNIS
Writer: MANOS IOANNIS
Producer: MANOS IOANNIS
Cast: ALEXANDROS STAVROU
Synopsis: Athens 2019.A family is trying to survive in the financial crisis. But what happens when a health problem occurs? Daily bullying, uncertain future and financial problems brings the family into a great deal of life. 2019.Μια οικογένεια προσπαθεί να επιζήσει μέσα στην οικονομική κρίση. Τι γίνεται όμως όταν εμφανίζεται ένα πρόβλημα υγείας;Το καθημερινό bullying, το αβέβαιο μέλλον και τα οικονομικά προβλήματα φέρνουν την οικογένεια σε ένα μεγάλο δήλλημα ζωής.

High Tide | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | 2019 | 11’
Director: Marco Salaverría
Writer: Marco Salaverría
Producer: Alejandra Acevedo Suzzarini
Cast: Tatiana Mabo, Francisco Marín, Luiggi Romero, Matías Salaverría
Synopsis: A woman long for her husband returns after he disappears at the sea.

ELIAS | Germany | 2019 | 25’
Cast: Cayan Yildirim, Elmira Rafizadeh , Bohdan Swiderski, Beo Yalcin, Jutta Dolle, Jochen Nickel
Synopsis: A single mother tries to care for her sick son. During the process her bold attitude gets in her way leading to fatal consequences. The film challenges the audience to take a close look and form their own judgment. Based on a true story.

Young Lady in the Pantry | China | 2019 | 29’
Director: Tian Shi
Writer: Tian Shi
Producer: Albee Zhang
Cast: Miao Zhen, XiangYu Wang, XianTing Gao, ZhanTong Chen
Synopsis: Many years later,In order to forget the hunted nightmare, Anna goes to a hospital where she bumps into a journalist, a nurse and a doctor who respectively knows her legendary yet unfortunate stories in different stages.However no one knows the truth of her nightmare but herself.

Figure | United Kingdom | 2019 | 09’
Director: Hao-Ying Li
Writer: Hao-Ying Li
Producers: Hao-Ying Li, Aakash Meshram
Cast: Nathaniel Farah
Synopsis: “What’s your inner animal?” When everyone needs to find their inner animal as an identification of personality and ability. Renard, a fresh graduate is uncertain his identity must find the connection with his inner animal, otherwise he will lose his connection with the society and become homeless. How can he figure out his inner animal?

STORMCHASER | United States | 2019 | 28’
Director: Gretl Claggett
Writer: Gretl Claggett
Producers: Gretl Claggett, Producer, Executive Producer, Pamela Cederquist, Executive Producer, Simon Taufique, Executive Producer, Sarah Donnelly, Producer, Etan Harwayne-Gidansky
Cast: Mary Birdsong, Stephen Plunkett, Dominic Rains
Synopsis: All Bonnie Blue ever wanted was to chase tornadoes with her Dad. But dreams die with time. Now, she’s become a different kind of storm chaser — hawking storm-doors “door-to-door” for her charismatic boss, Flip Smyth: a cult-like father figure to Bonnie and his tribe of young sales bucks. In the guise of “tough love,” Flip relishes publicly shaming Bonnie and his token minority assistant, Don Stuckey, her sole ally. After hours, Bonnie and Don find comfort in each other’s arms, inspiring Bonnie to rekindle her childhood dream and close her first deal. But when Flip pulls a bait-and-switch to avoid paying her commission, she finally challenges him, sending him into a rage as fierce as the funnel cloud that hovers on the horizon. As she realizes Flip’s doctrine of “Flip the Switch!” is just a way to exploit customers, a different kind of switch flips inside Bonnie — unleashing an inner and outer storm of violence.

Short Comedy – Official Selection – October 2019

YES BUT NO | Mexico | 2018 | 05’
Director: Maria Dioni
Writer: Maria Dioni
Producers: Rene U. Villarreal, Maria Dioni
Cast: Ana Cecilia Presa
Synopsis: Josefina is fed up. Guilty or not, Juan will pay.

İmparatorlukta Zor Bir Gün (A Hard Day in the Empire) | Turkey | 2019 | 20’
Director: Sezen Kayhan
Writer: Sezen Kayhan
Producer: Beste Yamalıoğlu
Cast: Ayris Alptekin, Murat Kılıç, Sezgi Mengi, Reyhan Özdilek, Sezen Kayhan
Synopsis: A prop assistant desperately tries to make the director happy on a challenging day at the set of an Ottoman soap opera. A political satire that questions the abusive use of power and authority. The film depicts the mobbing and gender discrimination experienced by women in film-tv industry.

Hard Ground | Canada | 2019 | 11’
Director: Samuel E. Mac
Writer: Samuel E. Mac
Proucers: Samuel E. Mac, Lee Marshall
Cast: Lee Marshall, Jean Bernard
Synopsis: Two bumbling drug addicts struggle to get rid of the corpse of their accidental hit and run victim in the middle of the frozen winter. Hilarity Ensues. A dark comedy in the vein of Fargo, Weekend at Bernies and Breaking Bad.

Square One | United Kingdom | 2019 | 12’
Director: Emily Jo Sargent
Writer: Emily Sargent
Producers: Lizzie Wilkinson
Cast: Kat Bond, Laura Checkley, Ed Eales-White
Synopsis: A semi-autobiographical film about the writer/director’s experiences of being in a closeted relationship. And of using fishing as a way to avoid sex.

Happiness – An Alien Concept | United Kingdom | 2019 | 12’
Director: Cheryl Bayliss
Writer: Cheryl Bayliss
Producer: Mark Nicholas
Cast: Benji Dotan , Jo Vivianne, James Bayliss
Synopsis: An oddball couple desperate for fulfilment have their mundane existence invaded by an unexpected new arrival.

Short Drama – Official Selection – October 2019

The Good Flirt | Romania | 2019 | 19’
Directors: Iulian Stanciu, Lari Gligor
Writers: Lari Gligor, Iulian Stanciu
Producers: Lari Gligor, Iulian Stanciu
Cast: Silvana Mihai
Synopsis: Lari, 28, finds someone very special on a dating app. But his profile image is not strong enough for him to make a move. He goes on a journey to find that person and show her what his profile picture can’t capture.

Kneeling Sheep | United States | 2019 | 15’
Director: Hai Rihan
Writer: Hai Rihan
Producer: Jervis Li
Cast: Hong Mei, Namar , Baoligao, Havrqeqege
Synopsis: A Mongolian single mother fights to save her son who is about to be executed, only to discover that the absence of justice is crushing her life.

Memory is red and it smells of gardenias. | Italy | 2019 | 17’
Synopsis: Francesco, a young photographer, has lost part of his memory after a bad accident. Developing old photos, he relives episodes of his intense relationship with a mysterious girl named Annalisa … until, suddenly, things are revealed for what they are.

We Were There | Canada | 2019 | 20’
Director: Saeed Vahidi
Writer: Shila Rashidian – Mehdi Kashani
Producer: Saeed Vahidi – Navid Soofi
Cast: Hamidreza Jadid, Elnaz Rezaei, Iman Karbalaeian
Synopsis: Today is Nahal’s birthday. Her friends have gathered to throw her a surprise party and are faced with an unexpected event. How will they react to their newfound knowledge that surpasses their ethical boundaries?

In the name of God | United States | 2018 | 20’
Director: David Jaure Rosenbaum
Writer: Ismail Yildiran
Producers: David Jaure Rosenabum, Carlos A Castillo, Nathan Mikita
Cast: Paul Alexandro, Vivian Ruiz, Ned Cray
Synopsis: A troubled young man finds himself looking after his gravely ill mother. A family friend and priest, offers to help him, but he refuses and loses faith in God, taking matters into his own hands.

DOGWATCH (The Guard) | Austria | 2019 | 33’
Director: Albin Wildner
Writer: Albin Wildner
Producers: Bernhard Wenger, Clara Maria Bacher, Sophie Sy, Albin Wildner
Cast: Rainer Wöss, Anna Tenta, Anton Noori, Gertrud Roll, Vitus Wieser, Susi Stach
Synopsis: His dog seems to be one of his last loyal allies, after Raphael had become obsolete for economic interests with his increasing age. The former technician of a successful industrial company is forced by the Austrian unemployment office to take a job as a night guard. With the courageous support of a Ukrainian nurse, who cares for his bedridden mother, there is a temporary hope to be able to cope with the new life situation. A warm-hearted narrative about that part of our society, whose basis of existence is increasingly threatened.

Upper Heist | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | 2019 | 09’
Director: Josue Saavedra
Writer: Josue Saavedra
Producer: Jose E. Martinez
Cast: Juvel Vielma, Leonardo Bustamante
Synopsis: It is the story of a writer who is living a bad moment in his life. Without ideas, without money and without a muse, his despair is such, that he decides to commit an Upper Heist.

Dirty Sexy Children | United States | 10’
Director: Clemy Clarke
Writer: Clemy Clarke, Zain Awais
Producers: Kyle Levy, Morgan Bouttier, Clemy Clarke, Adam Intrator
Cast: Dani Vollmer, Madison Hamburg
Synopsis: Rose meets again, after many years, her childhood friend Lino at a party.

Leave The Road Behind You | Ireland | 2019 | 16’
Director: Daniel Butler
Writer: Daniel Butler
Producer: Bob Gallagher
Cast: Sean Conlon, Naincí McMonagle, Pól Penrose, Maureen Butler, Andy Doherty, Elanor Gallagher, Pierce Butler
Logline: As his life changes outside of his control a young man struggles to keep his car on the road.
Synopsis: A young man from the Donegal Gaeltacht struggles with long-repressed emotions as he prepares to emigrate. Leave the Road Behind You, commissioned by RTÉ/ Filmbase, is a bilingual coming-of-age drama about a young man from the Donegal Gaeltacht struggling with long-repressed emotions as he prepares to emigrate. It was set and filmed in the Gaeltacht townland of Cloughaneely, Co. Donegal and features a local cast of both first time and seasoned actors playing out largely improvised scenes. Explores themes of emigration, loss, male self harm and identity. *Nominated ‘Best Newport Beach Short Film’ & ‘Best Director’ @ The Richard Harris International Film Festival 2019

The Pact | United Kingdom | 2019 | 07’
Director: Lily Coull
Writer: Kayleigh Benham
Producers: Daniel Hill, James Henderson
Cast: Gemma Higgins, Matt Beames, Tanya Lobban, Joe Field, Kelly Lobban
Synopsis: A marriage pact made in their teen years and deep-rooted feelings buried in secrecy – what could possibly go wrong? Twenty three years after the pact was made, they both have a turbulent track record and things on their mind. Can two friends put their past behind them to make love work? The Pact is part of #404LoveLetters; A collection of short films based on three twisted tales by 404 Young Associate Writer Kayleigh Benham, produced alongside a crew of young filmmakers in the Southampton area as part of 404 Productions’ Young Company programme.

Student Short – Official Selection – October 2019

HEADED NORTH: An Alaska Story | United States | 2019 | 20’
Writer: Braxton Haugen
Synopsis: The story of a farewell trip, 29 years in the making.

Remembering Daisy | United Kingdom | 2019 | 13’
Director: Alessandro Piccato
Writers: Monica Ioana Lungeanu, Carlo Alberto Zaccheo
Producers: Monica Ioana Lungeanu, Iman Khan
Synopsis: After Daisy’s death, her partners, Rob and Kent, get an unexpected visit from Molly, a tax & revenue officer investigating Daisy’s finances.

A Hong Kong farmer’s lot | Hong Kong | 2019 | 15’
Director: Chau Man Kit, Andy
Synopsis: Hoeing millet in mid-day heat, sweat dripping to the earth beneath. In Hong Kong, every inch of land worths a gold. 50-year-old Man-gor works as a farmer in the rural area, and his parents are also farmers. Man-gor used to work in the city. Today, when he returns to do farming in the fields, what kind of life is that?

The dirty kid and the road dog | 2018 | 20’
Director: Tristan Brooke
Cast: Shaun Kansy , Juniper
Synopsis: What does it mean to live without a permanent home or even a permanent city or state? What’s the reality of a life spent travelling America’s highways and byways? Is it the ultimate freedom or the ultimate burden? This film gives a distant, alternative and largely unknown existence a human face. Travelling with the self-styled Dirty Kid, the newly titled Road Dog is given a crash course in what it means to live without limits. He discovers that hitching rides, camping out and leaving markers are just a small part of Dirty Kid’s story.

Behind The Cloud There Lives A Sun | India | 2019 | 15’
Director: Kumar Mayank
Writer: Kumar Mayank
Producer: Vijay Roy, Mrinal Kumar
Cast: Sophia Viola, Gio Langga, Ray Rana, Bheallyn Palaroan
Synopsis: Waiting near the bus stop to take her son to a family gathering out of the town, a victim of domestic violence silently questions her way of life.

BOB | Finland | 2019 | 08’
Director: Lauri Elstelä
Writer: Lauri Elstelä
Producer: Lauri Elstelä
Cast: Wayne Allen, Marcel Bauerfeind, Diego Rubio, Marcel Bauerfeind, Vincent Forsvik Kiuru, Tucker Forsvik Kiuru
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Bob is on the phone and nervously scratches the paint off from the cover of the phone booth. It’s a big day. He is wearing a prisoner outfit and waits to be released today. Also, it’s the birthday of Bob’s kid, Cadence. It’s been years. No phone calls. No visits. He doesn’t even know what the kid looks like. It’s time for Bob to explore if being more open and available provides him with a better relationship with his loved ones, with his kid, and with himself. Is there a better definition for Bob and for masculinity? SYNOPSIS: Bob is on the phone and nervously scratches the paint off from the cover of the phone booth. It’s a big day. He is wearing a prisoner outfit and waits to be released today. Also, it’s the birthday of Bob’s kid, Cadence. It’s been years. No phone calls. No visits. He doesn’t even know what the kid looks like. On the other end of the phone, there is Theo, an old pal of Bob’s. “You’re in California? Why haven’t you called earlier?” Theo asks. Bob didn’t see that coming. He is not feeling well. Blood is draining from his head, “Yeah. I’ve just… arrived. I’ve been busy… Working. You know.”, Bob blurts out a lie. Bob has grown up in an era where he is taught to be strong, not show pain, weakness, or shame. That barrier is a tough thing to overcome, and being in jail… It is nothing to be proud of. To be fair, Bob just wanted to hear how the family he left years ago is doing. Bob is released. He is walking down to the highway ramp in Los Angeles to hitchhike himself a ride. Bob has always had some naive and romantic thoughts of life, which isn’t based on anything but maybe the old westerns. In the last scene of the stories, a lonely cowboy rode off into the sunset and left everything behind. Now, it’s time for the prodigal to return. It’s time for Bob to explore if being more open and available provides him with a better relationship with his loved ones, with his kid, and with himself. Is there a better definition for Bob? He is on his way to make a change and well, for starters, by wishing a happy birthday to his kid, Cadence. Owning nothing but a few bucks, Bob buys a birthday balloon. You got to bring something, right? Balloon. For a kid to whom Bob is a total stranger. A plastic bag full of air and a few great words printed on it – that makes perfect sense. Bob is at a phone booth outside of a noisy and crowded gas station. He is trying to give a little heads-up. The phone’s ringing, but no one replies. Nothing new under the sun. Bob walks, pulling the balloon behind him and stops in front of the house he recognizes. He takes a look at the back road, which leads to the backyard. There Bob sees a few kids and a bunch of birthday party themed decorations – tons of balloons like Bob’s but more prominent and prettier. Bob hesitates, and he takes a step backward. One of the kid’s and Bob’s eyes meet. Cadence? Bob’s happy birthday balloon disappears to the sky. As does Bob’s back into the sunset. Once again, everything is left behind.

Turkish Mesir Macunu | Canada | 2019 | 17’
Director: Sibel Guvenc
Writer: Sibel Guvenc
Producer: Sibel Guvenc
Cast: Selin Goren, Can Komleksiz, Leyla Batgi, Simla Civelek, Selma Civak, Basak Koksal, Cihan Sahin, Adara Su Guvenc
Synopsis: On the first night of an arranged marriage in a small Turkish town, a young bride wants nothing more than to go to Istanbul — that is, as soon as she can show virgin blood on a bed sheet to the aunts waiting impatiently in front of the bedroom. All this seems easy enough, but there’s one problem… the groom is impotent.

Strangers in the heart of europe [30] | Germany | 2019 | 30’
Diretor: Jan Paschen
Writer: Jan Paschen
Producer: Jan Paschen
Synopsis: Home and identity are not fixed terms, but flexible constructs that mean something different for everyone. Strangers in the heart of Europe portrayed Carpathian Germans in Eastern Slovakia.

Pardon | France | 2019 | 13’
Director: Rositsa Trayanova
Writer: Rositsa Trayanova
Producer: UPEM
Cast: Garance DUPUY, Leslie PERRIER, Vincent COMBE, Christophe MAI
Synopsis: After the three times that Thais tried to kill herself, she ends up at the rehabilitation center where she meets Roxan. Young singer, who is seeking treatment for her drug addiction. They get close very quick after spending little time together behind the doctors back. During a secret beach walk, a day before they release Thais, Roxan makes a present. Small player with a record of her last song. On other hand, Thais tells Roxan all the reasons why she wanted to end her life. Roxan is asking Thais to forgive, because “if we do not forgive we will never forget the pain.” And the pains stay, especially if you cannot forgive to yourself. A random meeting with the love of your life. A young singer who makes you see the life from another side of view. Who teach you that forgiving is the way to forget.

Kevin & Irena | United Kingdom | 2019 | 01’
Synopsis: An interview between Kevin and Irena on how they met for the first time

Rehearsal | Russian Federation | 2018 | 07’
Director: Alexander Belov
Writer: Alexander Belov
Cast: Erika Bulataya, Grigory Artamonov, Michail Bosco
Synopsis: Two small-town actors are heading Moscow to an audition for Helya’s and Victor’s parts in “Warsaw Melody” by Leonid Zorin. As they drive, they rehearse their parts.

Take it | Spain | 2019 | 04’
Director: Txemi Pejenaute
Writer: Txemi Pejenaute
Producer: Txemi Pejenaute
Cast: Socorro Sanz de Galdeano, Txemi Pejenaute
Synopsis: He has shot his camera thousands of times and yet he has never taken a picture. An element of the disruption changes all and he begins to see for the first time, to have a look in his eyes… Finally he will make his first picture: Take it! Written and directed by Txemi Pejenaute, was filmed during the film direction workshop given by the Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi in Navarra (Spain) in June 2019.

Luna | Poland | 2019 | 24’
Director: Marta Bijan
Writer: Marta Bijan
Producers: Marta Bijan, Tomasz Wilczyński
Synopsis: Two sisters live together in a cabin at the edge of the woods. The older sister, Gaia, is a local herbalist, and the younger one, Luna, spends her days reading the book “The Romance of Tristan and Iseult.” After Gaia’s sudden death, Luna grows even more detached from reality. One day, she finds a wounded man in the forest. Instead of helping him, she prepares a love potion to make him fall in love with her. Her beloved perishes because of her inaction, and the grieving girl drinks her own potion and dies as well.

Capture The North | Denmark | 2019 | 02’
Director: David Jervidal
Writer: David Jervidal
Producers: David Jervidal, Tommy Jervidal
Cast: Tommy Jervidal
Synopsis: From the small lonely islands of Lofoten to the dancing northern lights in Senja, David Jervidal travelled with his father Tommy Jervidal for 10 days in the northern part of Norway – with the aim to capture just a fraction of the untamed wilderness.

Jabbara Lebanon | 2019 | 13’
Director: Samir Kawas
Writers: Samir Kawas, Abdallah Kawas
Producer: Rita Choueifati
Cast: Theresa Kristi Abboud, Lina Sukkar, Rayan Zrein, Ghada Youssef
Synopsis: The monsters don’t live under your bed; but they rot inside your head. This story revolves around a teenage girl, Lina, whose envious mother, Salma, seeks revenge on her. Lina struggles to withstand any and every haunting memory of her putrid mother and seeks safety in the sanctuary that she’s built herself in her mind. But Lina is challenged when Salma’s hatefulness pushes her over the edge, and drives her to make a life-changing decision.

MidKnight Adventure | United States | 2018 | 15’
Director: Michael Lee Chan
Writer; Michael Chan
Producer: Albee Zhang
Cast: Drake Bennett, Nathan Emley, Mikkel Simons
Synopsis: MidKnight Adventure is a fantasy adventure film about a ten-year-old boy Matty, an only child with an adventurous imagination, who feels threatened by his soon to be baby sister. The day in which he has been dreading for so long, though, comes twofold: not only is the baby born, but the monster from Matty’s favorite comic book comes to life. As a result, Matty must face off with the monster while avoid losing his parents’ love.

Short Horror – Official Selection – October

The Outsider | Sweden | 2019 | 12’
Director: Ludvig Gür
Writers: Ludvig Gür, H.P. Lovecraft
Producers: Ludvig Gür, Jesper Jönsson
Cast: Kola Krauze
Synopsis: Based on H. P. Lovecraft’s weird tale of the same name, “The Outsider” is the story of how a desperate loner who has grown up with a butterfly and the Bible for company one day seizes his chance and makes good his escape, only to face his worst fears head-on at an all-nighter in the company of strangers.

Blink. | Spain | 2019 | 03’
Producer: Irene Montes
Cast: Carolina Meijer, Christian Caner
Synopsis: Darkness hides in all of us.

Rood | Germany | 2019 | 07’
Director: Falko Jakobs
Writer: Falko jakobs
Producer: Falko Jakobs
Cast: Adrian Linke
Synopsis: The Book was written by the man benhind the door. But if you just have the book, you can not see him anymore. And if you just have the door, without the book – than it´s just an old peace made out of wood. But when you have both – paper and wood, than you will see the man who wrote the book.

Short Fantasy/Sci-Fi – Official Selection – October 2019

Charon | Russian Federation | 2019 | 15’
Director: Alexander Maslov
Writers: Alexander Maslov, Maksim Lagunov
Producers: Alexander Maslov, Maksim Lagunov, Natalia Maslova
Cast: Igor Savochkin, Mila Denisenko, Olya Anikina, Sergey Goloborodko
Synopsis: Leaving the chase, the girl ends up in a stranger’s boat and asks him to take her to the other side. She does not know that no one came back from this way alive.

MEMORIO | Russian Federation | 2019 | 15’
Director: VADIM GORDT
Writer: VADIM GORDT
Cast: VALENTINA LYAPNIA, KIRILL GREBENSHIKOV, GLEB KALUZHNY
Synopsis: Nastya is having a skype call with her father at her 15th birthday. He is a military man who’s been away from home for many years. During the call Nastya notices something strange in her father’s behavior and starts an investigation…

Series (Web/TV) – Official Selection – October 2019

Animobiles | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela |2017 | 07’
Director: Alberto Chumaceiro, Mauricio Rodriguez Pons
Writer: Alberto Chumaceiro, Mauricio Rodriguez Pons
Producer: Isaac Bencid
Cast: Daniela Wertheim
Synopsis: The series follows the adventures of 4 characters: Nana, Guau, Ali and Mou; all are part of a cradle mobile and come alive every night, while the baby sleeps. These characters search for special items in the house to make a story that help the baby learn about different things important for his development.

STORMCHASER | United States | 2019 | 28’
Director: Gretl Claggett
Writer: Gretl Claggett
Producers: Gretl Claggett, Producer, Executive Producer, Pamela Cederquist, Executive Producer, Simon Taufique, Executive Producer, Sarah Donnelly, Producer, Etan Harwayne-Gidansky, Producer
Cast: Mary Birdsong, Stephen Plunkett, Dominic Rains
Synopsis: All Bonnie Blue ever wanted was to chase tornadoes with her Dad. But dreams die with time. Now, she’s become a different kind of storm chaser — hawking storm-doors “door-to-door” for her charismatic boss, Flip Smyth: a cult-like father figure to Bonnie and his tribe of young sales bucks. In the guise of “tough love,” Flip relishes publicly shaming Bonnie and his token minority assistant, Don Stuckey, her sole ally. After hours, Bonnie and Don find comfort in each other’s arms, inspiring Bonnie to rekindle her childhood dream and close her first deal. But when Flip pulls a bait-and-switch to avoid paying her commission, she finally challenges him, sending him into a rage as fierce as the funnel cloud that hovers on the horizon. As she realizes Flip’s doctrine of “Flip the Switch!” is just a way to exploit customers, a different kind of switch flips inside Bonnie — unleashing an inner and outer storm of violence.

Explore
Drag